Earth Matters

How soil underlies civilization

Richard Bardgett

Shows how soil, and the multitude of organisms that live in it, control all the biogeochemical cycles on which the functioning and future health of the Earth depends

Considers the relationship between human civilisation and soil, past and present

Describes the fundamental role of soil in climate change mitigation, food security, water quality and the restoration of biodiversity

Discusses the impact of widespread soil degradation, and explains why future sustainable management of soils is key to human well being, even for an increasingly urban human population

Earth Matters

How soil underlies civilization

Richard Bardgett

Description

For much of history, soil has played a major, and often central, role in the lives of humans. Entire societies have risen, and collapsed, through the management or mismanagement of soil; farmers and gardeners worldwide nurture their soil to provide their plants with water, nutrients, and protection from pests and diseases; major battles have been aborted or stalled by the condition of soil; murder trials have been solved with evidence from the soil; and, for most of us, our ultimate fate is the soil.

In this book Richard Bardgett discusses soil and the many, and sometimes surprising, ways that humanity has depended on it throughout history, and still does today. Analysing the role soil plays in our own lives, despite increasing urbanization, and in the biogeochemical cycles that allow the planet to function effectively, Bardgett considers how superior soil management could combat global issues such as climate change, food shortages, and the extinction of species. Looking to the future, Bardgett argues that it is vital for the future of humanity for governments worldwide to halt soil degradation, and to put in place policies for the future sustainable management of soils.

Earth Matters

How soil underlies civilization

Richard Bardgett

Table of Contents

Introduction1. Soil and the distant past2. Soil and the grower3. Soil and biodiversity4. Soil and water6. Soil and climate7. Soil and the city8. Soil and war9. Soil and the future

Earth Matters

How soil underlies civilization

Richard Bardgett

Author Information

Richard Bardgett, Professor of Ecology at Lancaster University

Richard Bardgett is a soil scientist and Professor of Ecology at Lancaster University. He is the Editor of the Journal of Ecology and Vice President of the British Ecological Society and holds positions in international biodiversity assessment committees. He has authored and co-authored several books, including The Biology of Soil (OUP, 2005).

Earth Matters

How soil underlies civilization

Richard Bardgett

From Our Blog

Many factors influence the outcome of war. But what has soil got to do with war? I suspect few have given much thought to the influence of soil on war, or, conversely, how war influences the soil. But the role of soil in warfare can be considerable, as can the impact of war on soil, which can often leave it unusable. The most dramatic and emotive examples of the role of soil in war comes from the First World War.

Most people living in large towns and cities probably give little thought to soil. Why should they? At a first glance, much of the ground in towns and cities is sealed with concrete, asphalt and bricks, and most city-dwellers have little reason to have contact with soil. To most, soil in cities is simply dirt. But soil is actually in abundance in cities: it lays beneath the many small gardens, flower beds, road and railway verges, parks, sports grounds, school playing fields, and allotments of the city, where it plays many under appreciated roles.

The soils surrounding the village where I live in the north west of England have abundant fertility. They mostly formed in well-drained, clay-rich debris left behind by glaciers that retreated from the area some ten thousand years ago, and they now support lush, productive pasture, semi-natural grassland and woodland. Although the pastures are managed more intensively than they were in the past, most of them are well drained, and receive regular dressings of manure along with moderate fertiliser, and are regularly limed, which keeps the land productive and the soil in good health.